Sunday, October 26, 2008

Don’t hire people smarter than youAs Ziz Ziglar eloquently recaps when you hire somebody smarter than yourself, you prove you are smarter than they are. One of the best lessons I’ve ever been taught in managing people is that A-grade manager’s hire A-grade people, B-grade managers hire C-grade people. If you need to be the smartest person in the room at all times, get used to your business growth stagnating and constantly hearing the words “If I want something done right… come out of your mouth.

Don’t share your knowledge within your industryI was always asked by other real estate agents why I’d get on a stage (or go to lunch) and share everything I knew about real estate and about my business. Wasn’t I afraid that people were going to copy me? Number 1 – if you’re doing something exceptional, people will find out regardless, that’s the beauty and the downfall of word of mouth, nothing sensational stays a secret for long. Number 2 – people don’t implement every great idea they hear, as much as speakers would love them to, it just doesn’t happen. Number 3 – when you share a great idea, you don’t lose it, you just multiply it, and if you do it properly the person you’re sharing it with may have some great ideas on how you can improve your idea.

You have to be ruthless to get aheadI have my own theories on different success styles but the more I meet successful people, the more I meet amazing, kind, generous, sharing people. In speaking to two different groups of real estate agents in New Zealand last week, the overwhelming response when I asked who was the person in their industry who they’d most like to become more like, was an agent by the name of Alison Aitken (a gun, but also incredibly well respected because of her ethics, standards and values).

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Packed full of content Ryan’s book is a nice combination of his story and his “how to”. More slanted towards those who want to take a business from start up to a medium sized exit strategy (as opposed to small / micro business) it’s easy to read and has some great exercises. My only criticism was that I wanted to hear more about Ryan’s business icontact and less about the company he was working in as teen. When you read it, grab a pen and paper though as the ideas come fast and you’ll get the most by writing a to do list as you go.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Please join me on October 22nd, 2008 as I am the featured Inspirational Luminary on InspireMeToday.com, a website that provides the Best of the Best Inspiration Daily™- each day from a different Luminary.Enjoy reading my, biography, quote of the day and 'Today's Brilliance', my personal text of the best things I've learned in life. The 30 minute interview with me and Gail Lynne Goodwin is a membership feature and will be available for free in mid-October. Just use the affliate code provided on this invitation to access. Thanks for joining me!

When you register, please remember to use my referral code: KR6BXFLAXI

Friday, October 17, 2008

Is email ruining your life and your productivity? Ok, sure it may not be as dramatic as that… but if you’re heart beats a little faster every time you hear that tone your computer makes when you get mail, or if you’re checking your email every few minutes (hey, did you just go and check it while reading this sentence?) maybe there’s a few little things you can do to get your productivity (ie: your actual work) back up the priority list.

1. Get the news, when you want itI looove newsletters but if I stopped to read each one as it came in, I’d never have any time at all. Instead I’ll sit down with a cocktail (or on a plane) once a week or every few weeks and read through the ones that grab my attention. To make sure I’m not bogged down with them in my inbox I can set up rules so that they got into a special folder in my inbox called (shock horror) “To Read”.

2. Alias it upAn even more advanced version of tip 1 (so that you don’t have to create a new rule for each newsletter) is to have a different email alias for your newsletter subscriptions. So you might be jane@rockstarrealestate.com but you might sign up to all your newsletters with janenews@rockstarrealestate.com. That way all your newsletters will automatically go into the folder you’ve set up.

3. Ditch itStill on newsletters and regular mailings. Be a little cruel and ditch the ones you don’t read.

4. File like a crazy personI like to keep my inbox empty or with only the most pressing items that need to be done that day. To do this, I’ve got about 5 folders set up that I file my work into. These ones work for me:• To do this week (and I have a diary note to check this once a week)• To do soon (I usually only check this once a month, but if I put something in here that has a specified time frame I’ll put a diary note in to remind myself)• Waiting on other people (so that I can keep track that what I’m delegating gets done, I find it’s easiest just to CC myself in on any emails that I delegate and pop them in this folder)• To read (which we’ve been through)• Funny (for the emails that make me giggle, it gives me somewhere to go back to when I need a pick up)• Delete (ok, so I didn’t make that folder up, but the only way to stay on top of your email these days is to put MOST email in here! Stop clogging up your system and your mind, deal with it and dump it)• Others (I have a few specific folders for different business ideas I’m working on, people I need to visit and other folders that work for me. You’ll figure out what works for you, just don’t go folder mad and have so many folders that you only file and never do the work!)

5. More on the Sydney Bristow (aliases)I travel a lot, and when I’m away someone else (fabulous Megan) will check my email. If you’ve got your very own Megan, consider another email alias that you can give people as a contact in case of emergency email (I just use my hotmail account for this as it’s web based and I know that I can get quick access to it almost anywhere in the world).

6. Be Zen likeKeep your in box as empty as possible. I don’t care how brilliant you think you are at email, having 1,500 emails in your inbox is a recipe for disaster.

7. Just say noIf you’re constantly getting swamped by annoying emails (perhaps the ones that promised doom and gloom if you don’t pass them on to everyone you know within 4 seconds) just kindly let the repeat offenders (and they are usually repeat offenders) know that you’d prefer not to receive them anymore.

8. Recycle (good for the environment, and for your inbox)In an ideal world you should only write the answer to a question once. From there you’ll blog it, or add it to your website’s FAQ or you’ll keep a template so that you can reuse it.

9. Don’t be a robotOn that last point, any standardised or template emails you send out should still sound like a human (not a robot) wrote them! Don’t be afraid to inject a bit of personality.

10. Delegate with styleIf you pass an email onto someone else so that they can action it, CC the person who sent it to you in on this delegation so they know that you’ve done it and they know who the contact person is now. This covers your butt and lets the person know you’ve done something all in one step.

11. Break the addictionTurn off your email program and just come back and check your emails say… twice a day. If the thought of doing this sends you into a cold sweat, just check for emails every hour to start off with. If you need to keep your email program open to work from say your calendar or to do lists just schedule the auto send and receive link so that you have to click it (and then hands off the button!)

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Thanks to the lovely chaps at Marquette Turner this weekend I found out about Kiva and I got pretty emotional reading through the site.

Kiva facilitates micro-financing loans to help build sustainable businesses that provide income to feed, clothe, house and educate someone in the developing world who needs a loan for their business - like raising goats, selling vegetables at market or making bricks.

Each loan has a picture of the entrepreneur, a description of their business and how they plan to use the loan so you know exactly how your money is being spent - and you get updates letting you know how the entrepreneur is going.Just now I helped my first entrepreneur Francis Tejada Rios from Peru.

Each time you assist it’s just $25 USD and when the entrepreneur repays the loan, you get that money back to either on-lend or to withdraw.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

What does the end of the week mean for you? Is it time to look back and see how things have gone that week? Does it mean that beer-o’clock is just that little bit closer? Does it mean that your real life (the weekend) is just about to start?

It could even mean all three of those things, but if you’re keen to have a bit of a reflection (perhaps before beer-o’clock) consider asking yourself the following questions.

In the past two months…

1. What have I done that has challenged me?2. Who have I met that has enriched my life?3. What book / blog post have I read that has helped me learn something?4. What have I figured out about myself?5. Who have I thanked?6. Whose life is better for having me in it?7. What goal have I achieved or am I closer to achieving?8. What didn’t I get done, that I wish I had?9. What was the highlight (and how can I replicate that or something similar in the future)?10. What was the lowlight (and how can I avoid it in the future)?

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Inspired by this post by Naomi Simson founder of redbaloondays.com.au where she said that when she walks into a room full of strangers at a networking opportunity she thinks: “Goody, a whole room of potential new friends”.

I like that as a potential thought, especially when the more introverted part of me is really thinking: “Goody, they catered this event really well and do you think that anyone will notice if I just stand in the corner, don’t talk to anyone and attack the canapé waitress each time she exits the kitchen?”

I love the topic of networking though and so I thought I’d list some other things you can get into the habit of thinking at a networking event (to overcome some of your perceived weaknesses):

If you’re an introvert challenge yourself by thinking:

• “I can stop networking as soon as I’ve met 15 people and exchanged business cards” • “I can stop networking as soon as I’ve found out 5 pieces of personal information about people (children’s names, hobbies, company goals) and written them on the backs of those people’s business cards• “I can stop networking as soon as I’ve got reasons to write 10 hand written cards tomorrow when I get back to work to people I’ve met here tonight”

If you’ve got the opposite problem and you know you talk a little (ok a lot) at these sorts of events, challenge yourself by thinking:

• “Over 50% of my night tonight will be spent silent” (remember the letters in silent spell listen!)• “I will end every sentence about myself tonight with a question for the person I’m talking to”• “How can I limit my elevator pitch to a fabulous 30 seconds?”

And if you have my problem and you’re overly fascinated by the munchies and cocktails on offer, rephrase the above goals so that you can eat one piece of food per 2 business cards exchanged.

Ultimately, in my mind, what I try to think when I walk into a networking situation is:

• “How many of these people don’t know about my business?” (and will by the end of tonight)• “How many of these people are potential clients?”• “How many of these people know potential clients?”• “Who in the room can I become or refer a client for?” (reciprocity works wonders and the best way to get a referral is to give one!)• “Who in this room has done something I’d like to do” (ie: who can I learn from?)

Getting your thoughts straight before you head into the event really helps you clarify your goals for the night and remember, of course you can also go along to an event like this just to have fun. Don’t be afraid to forget the strategy for a night (but take business cards just in case)!

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Kirsty's going to be on the new Hack Half Hour TV show this coming Monday. Kirsty was asked to come in and provide her opinion when the Hack Half Hour asked: is the great Australian dream a crock? Could buying a house in your twenties actually be a flawed dream? Should we be spending our money on other things or just be concentrating on having a good time?

The Hack Half Hour is a show that gets everyone talking about the issues that impact on your life. In a comfortable setting like your own local you can be part of the conversation and hear views that explore opinions and experiences you may not have heard or seen before. This is a show about your world and the things around you, so be a part of the conversation!